Confused on fish species!

In went up fly-fishing tonight at Brainard Lake. I've fished this lake for nearly 60 years. I also fish Brainard Lake around 50 times every year from mid June to mid October. I've caught thousands of fish at Brainard Lake and always caught Brook a few Cutbow and every now and than a Cutthroat. This fish is nothing that I've ever caught in Colorado! All I know it's NOT a Trout but some species of Char about 14 inches long! Hummmm maybe a Arctic Char?

Google Images: Arctic Char and Blueback Trout(which is a subspecies of Arctic Char)Google search: how do you catch a blueback trout? They always seem to elude me.Should come up as fieldandstream.com.Read first forum post.Your guess is as good as mine?

Thanks for all the comments about this confusing fish! I've been in contact with Ben Swigle the fisheries biologist for this area. He did say there has been reports of "strange" looking Brook Trout coming from Brainard and Long Lakes. I was thinking maybe a hybrid, but Paul Winkle also fisheries biologist for CPW, checked the stocking report as far back as they kept records. He said "There has been no Char species ever stocked in Brainard or Long Lakes" This "should" rule out a hybrid. More likely this could be a genetics mutation that is accruing naturally from Brainard Lake up stream on the South St. Vrain. Hope to find out soon!

Hi Moose Dancer. I am headed up to Brainard Lake this weekend and was wondering if you could share some tips on the best set up. I've heard just fries are good but wanted to see if I could pick your brain since it sounds like you fish there's often. Anything helps! Thank you!